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Olympics Guard Dies in Freezing Cortina Overnight Shift
11 Jan
Summary
- A guard died during a freezing overnight shift near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue.
- Temperatures dropped to -12C during the worker's shift.
- The death prompted a call for a full investigation by Italy's infrastructure minister.
A guard has tragically died from freezing temperatures during an overnight shift at a construction site near Cortina d'Ampezzo, a venue for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. The 55-year-old worker was on duty when temperatures plummeted to -12C. This incident has prompted Italy's infrastructure minister, Matteo Salvini, to call for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
While the construction site was not directly managed by Simico, the governmental company overseeing Olympic infrastructure, local officials expressed deep sadness. The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from February 6-22, 2026, with Cortina hosting curling, sliding, and women's Alpine skiing events.
Cortina will be one of several locations for the opening ceremony, alongside Milan, Livigno, and Predazzo, reflecting the Games' extensive geographical spread. The ceremony will feature performances by Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey, and will include a tribute to the late designer Giorgio Armani.
